Início / Romance / Bound by Billion-Dollar Vows / Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

Todos os capítulos de Bound by Billion-Dollar Vows: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

27 Capítulos

10

Chapter 1011:00 P.M.Exactly eight hours had passed since Luca Hernaez drove away from the De Dios residence.The neighborhood had long since quieted down.The laughter of children had been replaced by the occasional chirping of crickets.Street lamps illuminated the empty road, their warm glow casting long shadows across the pavement.Natalie stood alone on the second-floor balcony.A mug of chamomile tea rested in her hands.She wasn't drinking it.It had already gone cold.She stared absentmindedly at the quiet street below."..."Eight hours.Why was she still thinking about him?She let out a frustrated sigh."This is ridiculous."She leaned against the wooden railing.The conversation replayed inside her mind."I'm still serious about it.""We made a promise.""I kept mine."She squeezed her eyes shut."No.""Stop."She shook her head."That was years ago. We were kids."She laughed bitterly."Only Luca would remember something that happened seventeen years ago."Her gaze drift

Última atualização : 2026-07-24

11

7:30 A.M.The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the De Dios household.Natalie tied her crimson hair into a messy bun as she prepared breakfast.Eggs.Toast.Bacon.Pancakes for Olie.She hadn't even been unemployed for forty-eight hours.Yet somehow...She had already become the family's unofficial chef."Didi!"Olie came running downstairs."Morning.""Morning.""You made pancakes?""I did.""I love unemployment."Natalie laughed."I don't."Migo followed shortly after, looking much better than yesterday.The bruise on his cheek was still visible."Morning, Ate.""Sit.""You're eating before school.""Yes, ma'am."Laarni entered the dining room wearing silk pajamas, her hair wrapped in a towel.She dramatically inhaled."My favorite smell.""Coffee?""My daughter cooking."Natalie rolled her eyes."You were saying that yesterday.""And I'll say it again today."The family gathered around the dining table.For a brief moment...Everything felt normal.Until—Ding dong.The doorbe

Última atualização : 2026-07-25

12

Two days.Exactly two days.After that breakfast...Luca Elios Hernaez disappeared.No phone calls.No emails.No flowers.No breakfast deliveries.No surprise visits.Nothing.Natalie stood in front of the bathroom mirror as she brushed her teeth."...Weird."She froze.Why was she calling it weird?Wasn't this what she wanted?She had rejected him.Twice.Three times.More than that, actually.He finally respected her decision.So why...Why did the silence feel so loud?She shook her head."Get a grip, Natalie."By noon...She was vacuuming the living room.Laarni walked in carrying a basket of laundry."...No handsome billionaire today?"Natalie looked up."...Mom.""What?""I'm just asking.""He probably got tired of your stubbornness."Natalie rolled her eyes."I hope so."Laarni raised an eyebrow."Really?""...Yes.""You don't sound convincing.""I wasn't trying to."Later that afternoon...Olie came home from school.The first thing she did was look out the front window."...

Última atualização : 2026-07-25

13

3:10 P.M.Natalie glanced at the dashboard clock before parking her SUV across the street from Little Lamb Grade School.School dismissal had just begun.Parents lined the sidewalk.Nannies waited outside the gates.Children wearing blue-and-white uniforms happily ran into the arms of their families.Natalie smiled to herself."Right on time."She turned off the engine and grabbed Olie's favorite strawberry milk from the passenger seat."A reward for another day of school."After locking the car, she crossed the street toward the school gate.Inside the campus...The final bell rang.Students poured out of their classrooms.Olie adjusted her backpack before joining the line toward the exit.One of her classmates nudged her."Your sister's here."Olie looked through the iron gates.Her face immediately lit up."Didi!"Across the street...Natalie smiled and waved."There she is."She lifted the strawberry milk."I brought your favorite!"Olie's eyes sparkled."Didi!"She could no longe

Última atualização : 2026-07-25

14

Chapter 14The De Dios Residence3:38 P.M.The house was unusually quiet.Laarni had just finished folding the last basket of laundry in the living room.She smiled to herself."Natalie should be home by now."She glanced at the wall clock."They're probably buying snacks."Meanwhile...Migo had just gotten home from school.He tossed his backpack onto the couch before grabbing the TV remote."Mom.""Hm?""I'm turning on the news.""Go ahead."The television flickered to life.A commercial played first.Then...The local afternoon news began.Neither of them paid much attention.Laarni continued folding clothes.Migo absentmindedly scrolled through his phone while listening.Until—"...Breaking News."The news anchor's voice suddenly became serious."We're receiving reports of a traffic accident involving a young student outside Little Lamb Grade School earlier this afternoon."Migo barely looked up."Another accident..."Laarni sighed."Poor child."The screen switched to live footag

Última atualização : 2026-07-26

15

3:00 A.M.St. Mercy Medical Center.The once-busy emergency hallway had quieted.The rush of doctors had slowed.The waiting area lights had been dimmed.Only the occasional footsteps of nurses and the distant beeping of medical equipment echoed through the corridors.It had been almost twelve hours.Twelve agonizing hours.Still...No definitive answer.Natalie had cried until she had no tears left.She had paced until her legs gave out.She had prayed until her voice became hoarse.Eventually...Her body surrendered.She fell asleep.Not on the hospital bleachers.Not leaning against the wall.But beside Luca.Her head rested gently on his lap.One of her hands unconsciously clutched the sleeve of his riding jacket, afraid that if she let go, she'd wake up alone.Luca looked down at her.Her face was stained with dried tears.Her eyes were swollen.Even in sleep...Her brows remained slightly furrowed.She looked exhausted.Broken.Every now and then, she'd mumble something unintell

Última atualização : 2026-07-26

16

The consultation room was unnaturally quiet. The only sound was the low hum of the air conditioner. Natalie sat on the edge of the chair, her fingers tightly intertwined, Luca sat beside her. Neither of them spoke.A few moments later, the door opened.A middle-aged trauma surgeon entered, followed by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon.The lead physician took a seat across from them. "I'm Dr. William Carter."He placed Olivia's scans on the light board. Several X-rays, a CT scan, an MRI. The images meant nothing to Natalie. But the doctors' solemn expressions... They meant everything.Dr. Carter folded his hands together. "Miss De Dios..."Natalie's heart pounded. "...How's my sister?"The doctor took a measured breath. "First... I want you to know that Olivia survived the initial trauma."Natalie's eyes immediately filled with tears. "...She's alive?""Yes."Relief flooded her face. For one brief second... she smiled. Then the doctor continued. "However... The next seve

Última atualização : 2026-07-27

17

Dr. Carter and the other specialists immediately left to prepare Olivia for surgery. Sebastian stepped out to coordinate with the hospital administration and Luca's legal team.The door clicked shut, only Natalie and Luca remained. The silence between them felt different now.Not awkward. Not hostile. Just heavy.Natalie stared at the floor for a long moment before finally lifting her gaze toward him. She clasped her trembling hands together. "I accepted your proposal," she said quietly. "But I don't want you to think I'm doing this because I suddenly fell in love with you."Luca nodded once. "I know.""I still don't." Natalie let out a shaky breath. "I'm doing this for Olie." She looked away and bit her lower lip."I hate that I had to choose like this.""You shouldn't have to," Luca said in a calm tone"But I did." Natalie laughed bitterly as tears threatened to fall again. "I always told myself I'd never let money decide my future." She looked at him again. "And yet here I am."Luca

Última atualização : 2026-07-27

18

The red OPERATING light above the double doors remained on.Hours had passed, yet not a single member of the De Dios family had dared to leave the hallway. The untouched cups of coffee on the centre table had already gone cold. Laarni sat with her rosary wrapped tightly around her fingers, whispering the same prayer over and over until her lips had become dry. Migo rested his elbows on his knees, staring blankly at the tiled floor. Every time the operating room doors made the slightest sound, all three of them instinctively looked up, only to be met by another nurse hurrying past.Natalie stood by the small glass window overlooking the corridor. She hadn't moved much since Olie had been wheeled inside. Her dried bloodstains were still visible on the sleeve of her blouse.Laarni slowly stood and walked towards her eldest daughter."Natalie," she called softly, placing a gentle hand on her arm.Natalie turned around. "Ma?""You should go home for a while."Natalie immediately shook her

Última atualização : 2026-07-28

19

Luca stood a few steps away from his RV, his hands tucked inside the pockets of his slacks as he stared at the hospital building. His expression remained unreadable, but Sebastian had worked for him long enough to recognize the subtle signs. The slight crease between his brows. The untouched cup of coffee in his hand. The silence.His employer was worried.Sebastian approached quietly, carrying a black leather portfolio."Sir," he greeted respectfully. "The legal department has finalized the marriage contract. They only need Miss De Dios's signature once everything settles."Luca didn't look at him immediately.Instead, he continued watching the hospital entrance where nurses, doctors, and worried families came and went.After several seconds, he finally spoke."Give it to me."Sebastian handed him the folder without question. Luca opened it and slowly turned each page.Every clause.Every condition.Every obligation.The contract had been drafted exactly as he originally instructed.

Última atualização : 2026-07-29

ANTERIOR

PRÓXIMO

ESCANEIE O CÓDIGO PARA LER NO APP

DMCA.com Protection Status